Punching machine



July 15, 1947- 1.. c. PEARCE PUNCHI'NG' MACHINE Filed April 28, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. I Aims C. PEHECE BY wm a fl mu HTTOENEYS July 15, 1947. C P C PUNCJHING MACHINE Filed April 28, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 NM I INVENTOR.

y 5, 1947. L. c. FV'EARCE 2,424,137

PUNCHING MACHINE Filed April 28, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Y INVENTOR. law/5 C. PEA/ea:

Arne/vs Y5 'July 15, 1 947. L, c. PEARCE PUNCHING' MACHINE Filed April 28, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. LEW/5 a e-fleas H TTOIENE ys July 15,1947. 1.. c. PEARCE 2,424,187

PUNCHING MACHINE Filed April 28, 1945 8 Sheets- Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

LEW/5 C. PEAECE BY W Mwzfiay/fwg ym July 15, 1947. c. PEARCE 2,424,187

PUNCHING MACHINE Filed April 28, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 uvmvnm LEM l5 C.- PEAECE BY wwwa m July 15, 1947- L. c. PEARCE PUNCHING MACHINE Filed April 28, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet "r IN V EN TOR.

I v LEW/5 C Pewece kw flrrae/veys July 15,, 194-7. c PEARCE 2,424,187

PUNCHING MACHINE Filed April 28, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR. 56% 5 law/5 C. Pswecs MWMM ,ww

Patented July 15, 194'? PUNCHING MACHINE Lewis G. Pearce, Berea, Ohio, assignor to Standard Envelope Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 28, 1945, Serial No. 590,935

14 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in punching machines, more particularly machines for punching packs of blanks, such as envelope blanks, embodying means for feeding the blanks into operative relation with the punching mechanism and means for removing and transporting the punched blanks to a delivery stack.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of means for taking from a stack of blanks uniform packs of a selected thickness such that for the particular die and blank stock being dealt with maximum production may be attained while maintaining an accurate cut.

Another object is the provision of an automatic feeding means for carrying blanks in packs into position upon the anvil of a punch press, punching the blanks, and conveying them to a delivery pile or stack.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means in a machine of the character stated for truing up the blanks of a pack after they are deposited on the anvil and preparatory to the punching operation.

Another object is the provision of means for accommodating a relatively long stack of blanks to be fed to an anvil positioned near the base of the machine, by the expedient of inclining the stack and the anvil.

A further object is the provision of means for separating a pack of blanks from the top of the feed stack, gripping the pack and moving it laterally onto the surface of the anvil, this mechanism operating preferably in an inclined plane so that the blanks when released by the gripping means will slide into engagement with locating stops on the anvil.

Another object is the provision of common means for moving the pack separating finger and stack hold-down finger into and out of operative position, and for setting and releasing the pack gripping finger.

Another object is the provision of means for vibrating an inclined cutting strip for dislodging cuttings from the anvil.

Another object is the provision of endless belt conveyor means for transporting the punched blanks to a delivery stack, combined with means for lifting each pack of blanks 01f the anvil into operative relation with the conveyor.

Still another object is the provision of means for automatically jogging blanks placed on the top of the delivery stack into correct position on that stack.

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as I proceed with the description of that embodiment of the invention which, for the purposes of the present application, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, somewhat diagrammatic in character, of a machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental side elevational View, partly broken away, illustrating a portion of the machine on a larger scale.

Fig. 3 is an inclined plan view, partly in section on the line 3-3 of Fig, 1.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the supply stack and means for raising the same step by step,

Fig. 5 is a side view of the delivery stack and means for lowering the same step by step.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental View, partly in vertical section, taken upon a plane corresponding substantially with the line 66 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to that of Fig. 6 but showing a pack or blanks after having been lifted from the anvil and guided into operative relation with a continuously running conveyor, while the cutting strip is being vibrated to dislodge cuttings.

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the vibrator operating mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a fragmental detail view illustrating the mechanism for actuating the clutch pedal of the punch press.

Fig. 10 is an elevational view, partly in section, illustrating mechanism for operating the diagonally moving pushers which true up the pack of blanks on the anvil.

Fig. 11 is a fragmental view of the same on a larger scale, the view being taken substantially on the line I I of Fig. 3.

Fig. 12 is an elevational view illustrating mechanism for operating a rack which is attached to a reciprocable frame carrying the pack gripping finger which feeds the packs forwardly onto the anvil.

Fig. 13 is a fragmental view of the same on a larger scale.

Fig. 14 is a side View of a longitudinal member which contacts the free ends of two cranks that control stack hold-down fingers, a pack separating finger and the pack gripping and moving finger.

Fig. 15 is a transverse view, partly in section on the line I5-l5 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a side elevational view, partly in section on line I6l6 of Fig. 3, showing the pack separating finger and its operating mechanism.

Fig. 17 is a detail sectional view, taken on the line I'i-l'l of Fig. 3, showing one of the stack 3 hold-down fingers and the separating mechanism therefor.

Fig. 18 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a portion of the conveyor means for transporting packs of blanks to the delivery stack, together with means for jogging the blanks and thereby truiiig them up upon the stack.

Fig. 19 is a plan view of the same, and

Fig. 20 is a detail plan view of the cam shaft of the machine.

The illustrated embodiment of the present invention is a machine for punching windows in envelope blanks, but the invention may be readily adapted to the handling of other kinds of blanks, as will be readily appreciated by'those skilled in the art. The machine comprises two principal parts, a punching press and a feeding and delivery mechanism for depositing the blanks a pack at a time on the anvil of the press and removing the punched blanks, again a pack at a time, and conveying themto a delivery stack. The packs may be of whatever thickness the punch press is adapted to handle efficiently, but inall cases comprises a series of blanks. Accordingly, as hereinafter used, the term pack is to be construed as made up of a plurality of blanks.

In Fig. 1 the base of the punch press portion of the machine is shown at 25. The body 25 of the press is so adjusted that the punch die 2'! and the anvil 28 are inclined at angles of about 45 to the horizontal. The flywheel 29 of the press is revolved continuously by a motor 393. The clutch which causes die 21 to make one complete reciprocation at a time in accordance with conventional practice is operated by a foot pedal 3|. Die 27 is hollow. When it is forced through a pack of blanks, the cuttings enter the hollow die. A plunger, not shown, within the die, then ejects the cuttings. This also is conventional practice. A foot 32 partially surrounding the die and fixed to the head of the press strips the blanks from the die as the latter is retracted.

The blank feeding and delivery mechanism comprises a frame which is herein shown as made up of numerous steel bars, some of which rest upon the floor. The frame may be attached to the base 25 of the punch press, as by means of bolts 33 and 34, and is thus partially supported thereon. This frame includes on each side of the machine three inclined bars 35, 36 and 3! which are disposed at right angles to the anvil 28. The two bars 35 are bridged by a pair of connecting transverse bars 38 and 39, upon each of which a pair of brackets 46 are adjustably mounted, these brackets carrying adjustable posts il by means of which two inclined rods 42 are supported. These rods 3.2 which may be adjusted by the means described to fit blanks of different sizes, receive opposed notches of the blanks, as shoWn in Fig. 3, and in conjunction with the traveling platform 43 constitute supporting means for an inclined stack of blanks indicated at A4. The two sets of inclined bars 36 and 31 constitute guides for a pair of slides 45 upon which the platform G3 is mounted. To the ends of each of these slides there is connected a chain 46, these chains running over sprocket wheels 4'! and 48 which are fixed to shafts 59 and mounted in or upon the frame bars 35.

5! is the cam shaft of the machine, which is shown in detail in Fig. 20. It is driven by a chain or belt 52 from a shaft 53 in a reduction gear box 54, which gets its power from an electric motor 55 through the intermediacy of pulleys 55 and 51 and a belt 58.

The feed stack 4 is adapted to be raised step by step by means of a cam 59 fixed upon shaft 5!, this cam acting upon a follower 68 at the free end of an arm 6! pivoted at 62 to the frame bar 35. A link 53 is pivotally connected at its lower end with arm Bi and at its upper end it is connected by an adjustable pivot 64 with an arm 55 loosely mounted on shaft 55. A pawl 56 mounted on arm 55 actuates a ratchet wheel 51 which is fixed upon shaft 50. By this means the upper runs of chains M are moved upwardly a step at a time, the length of each step bein dependent upon the position of adjustment of the pivot '84. The consequent upward movement of the stack is limited by a limit switch 58 having a swinging arm fi arranged to be actuated by the upper end of one of the slides 45, and functioning to break the power circuit for motor 55.

In a plane parallel to the anvil 28 and somewhat above it there are guide tracks l0 and 1! supported by the frame of the machine. Track i8 is C-shaped in cross-section. Slidably mounted within it is a rack 72 A transverse bar 13 extends through a slot Hi in the inner side of trackit) and is welded or otherwise secured to rack l2. A brace l5 also extends through slot 14 and is secured to the rack, and at its opposite end is fastened to the bar 73. The opposite end of bar 13 extends into a guide slot It in track H. The bar 13 therefore moves with rack '32. The reciprocation of the rack is accomplished by gear TI which is fixed to one end of a stub shaft 78 that is mounted in a frame member I9 which constitutes a guide for the upper end of a rack 80 which meshes with a pinion 8! that is pinned to shaft 18. Gear H extends through a slot in guide track 10 in order to mesh with rack 12. Obviously, as the rack 8E! moves up and down the rack l2 will reciprocate. This movement is effected by a cam 82 which engages a follower 83 that is mounted on an arm 85 pivoted at 85 to a frame member and at 85 to the lower end of rack 80. A spring 81 holds the follower against its cam.

' Attached to the track it behind the supply stack there is a bracket 88, and a similar bracket 89 is attached to track ll opposite bracket 88. These brackets are adjustable along tracks if! and ill, as for example by the means illustrated in Fig. 16 where the track ill is shown provided with a series of threaded holes 95, in any one of which a screw 91 may be mounted. Brackets 83 and 89 support a fixed transverse bar 92, and just in front of bar 92 they support trunnions $3 at the ends of an oscillatable bar 9 Bar 92 carries a pair of blocks 95 which are adjustable along the bar. Each of these blocks supports a pivot 95 upon which is mounted a holddown finger 97 which is urged into engagement with the top of stack 44 by a compression spring 93, Fig. 17. A set screw 99 mounted in the finger engages bar 94 behind the trunnions of the latter.

On the bar 92 between the blocks 95 there is also mounted a block I which is provided with a groove fill (Fig. 16) in which is slidably accommodated a pack separating finger [62 that is pointed at its forward end in order that it may readily enter between adjacent blanks at the rear edge of the stack. The rear end of this finger has'an integral upward extension I03 in which is adjustably mounted a forwardly extending bolt or the like Hit. A tension spring "H15 attached at its forward end to the block I00 and at its rear end to a lateral projection I06 on the extension I03 tends to move the finger I02 forward and its front end downward.

Bracket 89 carries a short shaft I01 to one end of which is fixed a crank I08 with a roller I09 on its free end. Attached to the opposite end of shaft I01 there is another crank IIO, the free end of which is joined by a link III to a crank I I2 that is adjustably fixed to the adjacent trunnion 93. This adjustment may be conveniently effected in the manner illustrated in Fig. 16, where the lever l I 2 is shown split and is clamped to the trunnion by a set screw. Hence movement of the roller I09 downwardly will result in the tilting of bar 94 to depress the forward edge thereof. Since the finger I02 rests on the forward edge of the bar this tilting of the latter will lower the finger. At the same time the rear edge of the bar will be tilted upwardly and through the intermediacy of the screws 99 will lift the hold-down fingers 91 off the top of the stack. A spring I03 tends to raise roller I09.

The sliding bar 13 carries a pair of mounting brackets H3 in which is journaled a rock shaft I I4. On one end of the latter there is fixed a crank II5 which carries at its free end a roller H6. A spring II1 tends to raise roller IIE. At an intermediate position of the bar 13 there is clamped a forwardly extending pad H3 (Fig. 13) above which is mounted a slide I I9 arranged to be moved by a tooth I20 on a disk I2I pinned to shaft I I4. Tooth I20 extends into a slot formed in slide H9. Hence as the roller IIS moves up and down slide H9 is reciprocated. A gripper finger I22 is pivotally mounted on the under side of pad H3 and has an upwardly extending arm I23 which projects through a hole in the pad H8 and through a slot I24 in the forward end of slide H9. A tension spring I25 connects arm I23 and a projection on slide H9. When the roller H6 moves downward slide H9 moves rearwardly and rocks finger I22 upwardly into pack gripping position through the pull exerted on spring I25.

The two rollers I09 and H6 are depressed simultaneously by longitudinal bar I26 which is fastened at its ends to arms I21 and I28 that are mounted on aligned pivots I29 and I30 carried by the frame. Arm I23 projects beyond its pivot I30 and its outer end is pivotally connected with a link I3I which extends downwardly at an angle, its lower extremity being pivoted at I32 to a lever I33 (Fig. 14) which is pivoted at I34 to the frame of the machine and-carries a roller follower I35 at its free end that runs upon a cam I36 keyed to cam shaft 5| As the bar I26 is moved up and down by this means the two cranks I03 and H5 are rocked simultaneously to tilt bar 94 and to close gripper finger I22, this actuation of finger I22 continuing while the bar 13 moves forward with rack 12.

A cutting strip I3! is stretched diagonally over the anvil 23 as shown in Fig. 3. This strip is moved forward between cuts a small fraction of an inch at a time by conventional means, not shown. Transverse bar I36 is supported on the frame above the anvil 28 and carries two adjustable collars I39 which support arms I40, that may be adjusted angularly. From these arms posts I4I depend and on the lower ends of these posts thin plates I42 are mounted to lie directly above the cutting strip I31. Posts I4I may be adjusted by the means indicated to fit opposed notches in envelope blanks of any one of a plurality of sizes, thereby forming stops to inter- 6 rupt the travel of a pack of blanks after they have been deposited on the inclined anvil,

Referring now particularly to Figs. 3, l0 and 11, I43 is an elongated pinion rotatably mounted at its ends in frame members of the machine. A rack I44 on the upper end of a reciprocable bar I45 meshes with pinion I 43 at one end of the latter. Bar I45 is pivoted at its lower end upon a lever I46 that is pivotally mounted on frame bar 35 and carries a roller fo loWer l5 bearing upon a cam I48 keyed or pinned to cam shaft 5|. A spring I49 holds the follower against its cam.

On a transverse frame member I50 I mount a pair of blocks I 5| which are adjustable crosswise of the machine. These blocks are provided with inwardly and forwardly directed diagonal guides for racks I52, the blocks being cut away on their lower sides to permit the racks to mesh with pinion I43, the teeth of the rack being dia onally cut to properly fit the teeth of the pinion. Behind the blocks I50 the racks I52 have attached thereto diagonally disposed members I53 comprising pushers I54 near their forward ends which, as they move forward due to the downward travel of rack I44, engage opposed notches in the blanks, push the latter into firm engagement with the posts MI and true up the pack of blanks on the anvil preparatory to the punching operation. Bars I53 are guards movable with bars I53, the purpose of which is to facilitate the travel of packs of blanks over the bars I53.

When the out has been made, as indicated by the broken line I55 in Fig. 3, the blanks are moved away from the anvil in a direction upwardly and at right angles to the surface of the anvil, partially by means of an idler roller I56 mounted in a bracket with an inclined surface I51 and partially by the upper end of a rod I56. The bracket carrying the roller is mounted on the upper end of a rod I59. The lower end of rod I58 is fixed in a bracket attached to a reciprocable member I60 carrying a follower roller I6I which bears upon a cam E62 keyed to cam shaft 5|. Rod I59 is slidable relative to member I60 and is biased toward a predetermined position by means of coil springs I63 and IE4. The raised position of the member I50 and associated parts is illustrated in Fig. 7, a pack of blanks being shown at I65.

Near the rod I53 there is a similar rod I66 which is so disposed that its upper end is adaptedto engage the lower surface of the cutting strip I31. This rod I66, as shown in Fig. 8, is arranged to be vibrated by a disk I01 keyed to cam shaft 5| and carrying a series of radial pins I60 which act in rapid succession upon a roller I69 attached to a bifurcated slide I10 which straddles shaft 5| and in which the lower end of rod I60 is secured. Owing to the fact that the cutting strip is stretched over the anvil, the rapid reciprocations of rod I66 vibrate the strip and effectively dislodge the cuttings, causing them to slide down the inclined surface of the anvil and drop off onto a conveyor belt I1I which is driven by a roller mounted on a shaft I12, the latter being driven by a belt I13 running over a pulley I14 on cam shaft 5|.

Output shaft 53 of reduction gear box 54 carries also a sprocket wheel I15 over which runs a chain I16 that drives the sprocket wheel I11 on a shaft I18. This same shaft carries another sprocket wheel I13 over which runs a chain I that extends forwardly to a sprocket I8I on a shaft I82. The latter shaft carries a gear I83 which meshes with a gear I84 of the same size mounted on a shaft I85, see Fig. 2.

A conveyor belt I86 runs over a roller or pulley on shaft I85 and over a roller or pulley on a shaft I81 positioned in the frame of the machine dia onally downward and forward from shaft I85. Another conveyor belt IIsS runs over a 'rolleron shaft I82 and over a pulley or roller on another shaft I39 also. positioned diagonally downward and forward and opposite the anvil 28. The lower run of belt I83 is superposed directly upon the upper run of belt I82, and these adjacent runs move in the same direction as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. When a pack of blanks is raised off the anvil, as shown in Fig. 7, the roller I56 and inclined surface I51 force the pack against the belt I88 and guide it into the grip of the two adjacent runs of belts I86 and'I88.

After a pack of blanks reaches the upper end of the conveyor constituted by these two belts, it enters the grip of a horizontal conveyor constituted by one or more pairs of superposed belts I90 and I9I. Belts I98 run over a roller on shaft I'IB which is driven from the gear reduction box as previously stated, and over a roller on shaft I92 in rather close proximity to shaft I85. The upper runs of these belts I96 are supported at intervals by idler rollers I93. Belts IQI run over the previously mentioned roller on shaft I82, which is driven by chain I80, and over a roller on shaft IQ I mounted at the rear end of the machine somewhat behind shaft IIS. All of these conveyor belts operate continuously.

A support for a delivery stack is disposed at the rear of the machine. It comprises two verticalguide bars I95 and let at each side of the machine; Between each of these pairs of guide bars there is a slide I97, and these two slides support ahorizontal platform I98 made up of a series of slats set on edge as indicated in Fig. 19, upon which the blanks rest. An upper shaft I99 and a lower shaft ZIIII carry at their opposite ends sprocket wheels over which run two chains 20!, the ends of each chain being secured to the slide I97 on that side of the machine. In the operation of the machine the platform I98 is moved downwardly step by step. This action is effected by cam 202 keyed to cam shaft i working against a follower 253-3 at the lower end of a lever 264 which is pivoted at 285 to the frame bar 35. As

the lever. 25 1 swings back and forth it reciprocates a link Zilil attached to an adjustable pivot 28! in an arm 288 which turns loosely upon shaft 200. Arm 258 carries apawl 2539 which engages with a ratchet 2H3 fixed to shaft ZIJIJ. When it is desired to raise the platform I98, as at the beginning of a machine run, the pawl .209 maybe disengaged manually from the ratchet ZID and the operator may then turn shaft I99 by means of hand wheel Z'Il in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1.

When the blanks aredischa-rged at the rear end of the'horizontal conveyor they strike depending stops 2I2 which are disposed to engage opposed notches in the blanks as indicated in Fig. 19 of the drawings, these stops being adjustable to fit blanks of different sizes. On a transverse frame bar 2I3 there are two blocks 2M mounted for adjustment along the bar, and in these blocks there are mounted for adjustment forwardly and backwardly two bars 2I5. These bars are attached to a pair of vertical rods 2 It to which are also attached horizontal plates 2I'I, the'latter being connected at their rear ends to verticalstrips 2I8 which are also connected to bars 2I5.

The horizontal portions of a pair of angular pushers 22s are mounted to slide on plates 2|! from the position illustrated in Fig. 18 to a position where the vertical portions of the pushers are in line with rods 2I5. These pushers are adapted to engage opposed notches in the blanks, as indicated in Fig; 19, thereby working in conjunction with stops 2I2 to true up the blanks at the top of the vertical staclnwhich is indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings at 256. Pushers 22f) have forwardly extendin rods 22I which project through openings in strips 258 an into tubular guides 2 I 53 carried by strips 2 I8. Springs 222 surrounding rods 22I tend to move th pusher 222' to their rearmost position. The movement of pushers 229 forward is effected by cords or round belts 22% attached to rods 22I and running over pulleys 224 which depend from a pair of tracks 225 disposed below and parallel to the belts of the horizontal conveyor. These tracks form guides for a slidable frame made up of spaced transverse bars 225 and longitudinally extending tie bars 22?. The opposite ends of the cords 223 are attached to a bracket 228 depending from the forward bar 226.

A link 229 is also pivoted at its forward end to bracket 22%. The rear end of the link is pivotally connected with the upper end of an arm 238, the lower end of which is fixed to a rock shaft 23I mounted in the frame. One end of this shaft carries a depending arm 232 to the lower end of which is connected a reciprocable bar 233 that is bifurcated at its lower end to straddle shaft 5i. It carries a follower 23 which bears upon a cam 235 that is keyed to shaft 5i, A tension spring 23% holds the follower against the cam and tends to move the bracket 228 rearwardly, thereb compressing springs 222.

For the purpose of actuating the clutch of the punch press at the proper time in the cycle, a post 23'! is mounted upon the pedal 3I and piV-- otally connected at its upper end with a lever 238 which is pivoted at 233 to a bracket on the frame of the machine. Lever 233 carries a roller follower 246 which is adapted to be moved downwardly from the position of Fig. 9 by a cam 2 lzgyed to shaft 5i working against a tension spring Operatz'0n.At the beginning of a work run the platform if is lowered to the bottom of its path of travel by throwing pawl 6 5 out of action. It will then descend by gravity, Its rate of travel downwardly may be retarded by means of a hand wheel 25I attached to one end of shaft 55?. Blanks are then loaded onto the platform and the rods #2 .until the stack reaches to the top of the rods. Platform I98 which supports the delivery stack is raised to the top of its travel. Next the cam shaft 5i is turned by means of a hand wheel 252 on one end thereof to bring the cams into proper position for the beginning of a cycle, including the movement of rack I2 to its rearmost position and the tilting of the rear edge of bar 9 3 downwardly to enable springs 98 to depress hold-down fingers 9?, The motors 3t and 55 are then started, causing the flywheel 29 to turn, the conveyor belts to run over their pulleys and rollers and the cam shaft to rotate.

The stack 44 then rises one step, after which rack I2 starts forward. This permits spring I05 to advance separator finger I92, causing the point of that finger to enter the rear edge of the stack a predetermined distance below the top thereof. Immediately thereafter the gripper finger, which is then open, moves into the space beneath the rear edge of the pack lifted by the separator finger. Longitudinal bar I25 then moves down rocking both of the cranks I08 and H counterclockwise. The rear edge of bar 94 is thereby tilted upward, which relieves the pressure of hold-down fingers 91 on the stack, and the gripper finger is closed upon the pack. The rack continues to move forward with the gripper finger closed, thereby advancing the pack over the guards I53. When the rack 72 approaches the forward end of its travel the bar I25 rises, opening the gripper finger I22 and. releasing the forwardly movin pack which then slides down onto the blades I42 on the anvil 28 and over the cut ting strip I 31. Rack I2 then reverses its direction and continues to move backwardly until the bar 73 strikes the bolt I64 and, retracts the finger I02 to clear the stack 44.

As soon as the pack is stopped by striking the posts Ml, the pushers I53 move diagonally downward and inward to engage the blanks of the pack at their upper notches, which trues up the pack preparatory to the punching operation. The punching die 27 now descends to make the cut and immediately thereafter rises. At about the same time the pack is lifted ofi the anvil by the roller I 55 and the rod 558. The cuttings are ejected from the die as previously explained, falling upon the cutting strip i231, and the blanks are stripped from the die by the foot 32. Vibration of the cutting strip through the action of disk I61 with its pins I68 then discharges the cuttings onto the anvil beyond the cutting strip, from which they slide forward onto the moving belt Ill and are conveyed thereby into a suitable re ceptacle placed to receive them.

The fact that in accordance with this invention uniform packs are deposited on the anvil is important. In the case of hand fed machines the operator seeks to select a pack of the maximum thickness which may be advantageously handled. He cannot judge accurately in every instance. If he errs on the conservative side his production suffers, and if he errs on the other side the die may be crowded inwardly toward the bottom of the pack with the result that the lower blanks are not accurately cut. In accordance with the present invention it is possible to determine by experiment just what thickness of pack is the optimum for a given set of conditions, and then to set the machine for that thickness, so that maximum production with uniformly excellent results is obtained.

The movement of the pack away from the anvil by the roller I56 and the rod I58 forces the rear end of the pack against the traveling belt I 88, thereby imparting traction to that belt, which causes the pack to move upwardly between the two belts I88 and I 86 in a direction that is generally opposite to the direction of travel of the pack onto the anvil. When the pack reaches the upper end of belt I86 it is fed into the grasp of the two sets of belts I90 and I 9| and caused to travel in a horizontal direction to the rear of the machine. Here it is discharged onto the delivery stack 25E! and trued up by the fixed depending posts 2 I2 and the reciprocating pushers 223. The stack 259 is then lowered one step a distance corresponding substantially with the thickness of a pack. The cycle then repeats.

When the machine has been operated long enough so that the delivery platform I98 has reached the bottom of its travel the operator stops motor 55 and the blanks in the delivery stack are removed. Platform 43 is then lowered and 10 platform Hi8 raised, after which a new supply of blanks is added to those remaining in the feed stack. Operation of the machine may then be resumed in the manner previously described.

Variations from the described structure may be employed. Accordingly I desire it to be understood that the scope of the invention is to be regarded as defined exclusively by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description or the accompanying illustrations.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a machine of the character described, a support for a stack of envelope blanks, means for separating a pack of blanks of selected thickness at one end of said stack and moving said pack laterally, an anvil disposed to receive said laterally removed pack, a punching die cooperating with said anvil for acting upon said pack of blanks, means for removing the punched blanks from the anvil, and means for causing endwise travel of said stack a distance corresponding to the thickness of said pack.

2. In a machine of the character described, a support for a stack of blanks, means for separating a pack of blanks at one end of said stack and moving said pack laterally, an anvil disposed to receive said laterally removed pack, a punching die cooperating with said anvil for acting upon said pack of blanks, means for moving said pack of blanks away from said anvil in a direction at right angles to the plane of its surface, means for removing the cuttings, means for removing the punched blanks, and means for causing endwise travel of said stack a distance corresponding to the thickness of said pack.

3. In a machine of the character described, a support for a stack of blanks, means for separating a pack of blanks at one end of said stack and moving said pack laterally, an anvil disposed to receive said laterally removed pack, a punching die cooperating with said anvil for acting upon said pack of blanks, a delivery belt conveyor running in a direction opposite to the direction of feed toward said anvil, and means for moving said pack of blanks away from said anvil into position to be taken by said conveyor.

4. In a machine for punching windows in envelope blanks, an anvil, a punching die reciprocable toward and away from said anvil, a pair of fixed guide posts on the anvil for engagement with a pair of opposed notches in a pack of blanks, and a pair of guide posts movable diagonally inward into engagement with another pair of opposed notches in the blanks of the pack for truing up the pack preparatory to the punching operation.

5. In a machine of the character described, blank punching mechanism comprising an anvil and a die reciprocable toward and away from said anvil, a drive for said punching mechanism including a single cycle clutch, mechanism for feeding blanks in packs into a predetermined position on said anvil, mechanism for removing said packs from said anvil and assembling them in a delivery pile, a cam shaft carrying cam means for actuating said feeding means and pack removing means in timed sequence, and means carried by said cam shaft for actuating said clutch to throw said punching mechanism into operation between the feeding and blank removing operations.

6. In a machine of the character described, an inclined anvil, a punch reciprocable toward and away from said anvil, a cutting strip stretched 11 acrosssaid. anvil, means for supporting a packet blanks on said anvil above said cutting strip, meansfo-r. lifting the punched blanks above said strip, and means for vibrating the strip to dislodge the cuttings,

"I. In a machine of thecharacter described, an inclined anvil, a punch reciprocable toward and away from said anvil, a cutting strip stretched across said anvil, means for supporting a packof blanks on said anvilabove said strip and-overlapping both edges of said strip, *reciprocable members below said anvil adapted to engage the packxof punched blanks on opposite sides of said stripand lift-:them out of contact withthe strip, and another reciprocable member below said. an vil'iarranged to engage thelower surface of said strip and-zvibrate the" same for dislodging the cuttings." 2

8., Ina machine of the character described, an inclinedsupport. for a stack of blanks, an inclined anvil disposed at right-angles to said support at the upper end thereof, .means :for separating a pack of blanks at the upper: end-of said stackand moving said'pack laterally in one direction onto said ianvi-l, a punching die.reciprocabletowardand away from said anvil,- and delivery means arranged to move said packof punched blanks laterally'in the oppositedirection above said stack,

9. ma machine of the character described, means for-transferring a pack of blanks from thetop of a stack toan anvil disposed laterally thereof, comprising a frame reciprocablein a plane parallel -to the anvil, a gripper finger mounted on said frame, a rock ,shaftzcarried by said frame, operating connections-between said shaftand said gripper finger, a crank onsaid shaft, a longitudinalbar on which the free end of saidcrankruns as thesaid frame reciprocates, and-means for movingv said bar up and down to turnsaid rock shaftfor-controlling said finger in different positions of said frame.

10. In a machine of thecharacter descrlbed,-;a support. for a stack of blanks,an oscillatable'bar disposed transversely of the machine behind said stack, a finger for separatingand lifting the rear edge of a packet blanks at the topof saidstack,

andahold-down-finger for engagement withthe topof thestack, said bar engaging said separating finger .on oneside of the=axisof the-bar and,,said,;hold-down finger on the other sideof said axis both of said fingers being-pivotally mounted-behind said .bar, whereby the tilting of the bar. in a given direction ,will lowerthe saidseparating finger and. raise the .said hold-down finger.

11. In a machineof the character described, means for transferring, apack of envelope blanks from. the top of a stack to an anvil disposed lat erally thereof, comprising a frame reciprocable in .a plane parallel to thesurface of the anvil, a gripper finger, mounted on said frame, a. finger forseparating andlifting therear edge of a pack of blanks at the top of said. stack, said finger being reciprocable toward and awayv from the rear of the stack, means on said reciprocating frame for l'nOVing the latter finger to its rear- Ward position, and spring means for moving it forward when the frame starts forward, said gripper finger moving beneath the rear end of said pack as the frame moves forward, and means for closing said gripper finger against the pack and holding it closed for advancing said pack onto said anvil and for releasing said gripper fingerat the forward end of the frame stroke.

12. In a machine of the character described means for transferring a pack of blanks from thetop'of a stack to an anvil disposed laterally thereof, comprisin a frame reciprocable in a plane parallelto the anvil, a gripper finger mounted on said frame, a rock shaft carried by said reciprocable frame, operating connections between said shaftand said gripper finger, a crank on'sai'd shaft, a pack separating finger disposed behind the stack movable up and down and into and out of engagement with the stack, a crank operatively connected With said pack separating finger for moving the same up and down, means for reciprocating said pack separating finger, a longitudinal bar disposed to engage the free ends of both of said cranks, and means for moving said bar up and down.

13. In a machine of the character described, a packdelivery conveyor, comprising a pair of endlesssuperposed belts, the adjacent runs of Which travelin the same direction, the upper belt extending beyond one end of the lower belt, and means for raising a pack of blanks into position to be taken by said adjacent runs, said raising means embodying an idler roller engaging the pack therebeneath, pressing it against the upper belt and guiding it into the grip of said adjacent runs.

14.- In a machine of the character described, a support for a stack of blanks, adjustable means for separating from one end of said stack a pack of blanks of a selected thickness, an anvil disposed to receive said separated pack, a punching die cooperating with said anvil for acting upon said pack of blanks, and means for removing the completed blanks from said anvil in a direction at right angles to the surface of the anvil.

LEWIS C. PEARCE.

REFERENCES; CITED J The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,596,926 Furber Aug. 24, '1926 1,956,022 Graves Apr. 24, 1934 612,609 Hunter Oct. 18, 1898 908,115 Metcalfe Dec. 29, 1908 1,653,305 Myers Dec. 20, 1927 782,924 Roesen Feb. 21, 1905 1,983,708 Ruble Dec;1l, 1934' 

